Apparatus for sewing mattresses



Jan. 2, 1940. M. GOLDBERG APPARATUS FORSEWING MATTRESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Nov. 17, 1937 MAX GOLDBERG INVENTOR BY W M ATTORNEY Jan. 2,1940.

M. GOLDBERG APPARATUS FOR SEWING MATTRESSES Filed Nov. 17, 1937 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR m v 2? Q m 3 BY ATTORN EY 1940- M. GOLDBERG 5 5APPARATUS FOR SEWING MATTRESSES Filed Nov. 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1940. M DBER 2,185,251

APPARATUS FOR SEWING MATTRESSES Filed Nov. 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 33MAX GOLDBERG INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITE I S i TE NTOFFEQE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for sewing mattresses, and moreparticularly to mechanism for stitching the edge portions of the top andbottom covering sheets of ticking material to the border strip ofticking material.

The main object of this invention is to provide mechanism comprisingmattress supporting means of the class described whereby a sewingmachine may be mounted sothat it may be con tinuously propelled aroundthe outside of the mattress supporting means and actuated to stitch theticking sections together.

Another object of this invention is to provide the mattress supportingmeans with a rectangular track having arcuate corners and having fixedpivotal members at the centers of said arcs for retaining the workingcenter of said sewing machine in concentric relation with the workingcenters of the said corners.

Another object of this invention is to mount the mattress supportingmeans or table on a circular base and to mount an insulated cylindricalmember of a material adapted to conduct an electric current around saidbase to form an electrically charged track, and to provide means fortransmitting current from said track to an electric motor serving topropel the sewing machine around the table and for operating the sewingmachine.

Another object of this invention resides also in the simplifiedstructural features of the invention resulting in economy of production.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will behereinafter more particularly described, and the combination andarrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with the mattress supportingtable partly broken away to show a fixed pivotal member for retainingthe working center of a sewing machine in concentric relation with theworking center of the arcuate corner of the table.

Figure2 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 3 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a carriage uponwhich a sewing machine is mounted for propelling the sewing machinearound theoutside of the table.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage, the section beingtaken as on line 4-4 in Fi ure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View of the table mounted on a circularbase around which is an electrically charged circular track.

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of a pivotal member.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary central cross-sectional view of theupper portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 5.

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram showing means for slowing down the carriagemotor at the arcuate corners of the mattress supporting means.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral it]indicates a substantially rectangular supporting framehaving supportinglegs H at each corner. Secured to the upper portions of the legs 5 I,such as by bolts l2, are cross-members i3 and M which are positioned inperpendicular horizontal frame making relation. Canframe It. The tableI!) is preferably shaped to correspond with the shape of a mattress,which is rectangular, and is preferably provided with rounded corners.

Secured to the legs H at an elevation below the track rail ll is a trackrail .29 which is similar to the rail I! but of smaller dimensions. Asshown in Figure 2, the lower rail or track :29 has been made of smallerdimensions than the track H to maintain the carriage 2!, which isoverbalanced in weight on the rollers 22, in a substantially verticaloperable position. In this position, the sewing machine is properly setto operate at the proper angle on the edge of a mattress.

A carriage 2! of channel-shaped cross-section has been mounted in anupright position in slidable relation around the table I9 by means ofupper rollers 22 resting on the upper surface of the track H, a roller23 rotatably mounted against the upright inner surfaceof-the track Handa lower roller 24 rotatably mounted against the upright outer surface ofthe lower rail 20.

The carriage 2! is provided with an-upwardly inclined shelf 25 hinged ona pivot 26. A sewing machine head 27 is secured to the shelf 25 as shownin Figure 2. The sewingmachine head is preferably disposed at an angleof 45 degrees to the vertical and horizontal, which angle facilitatesthe stitching together of a pair of sheets of material, one of which isdisposed in a vertical plane and the other of which is disposed in ahorizontal plane. A threaded member 28 secured at its upper elevation tothe upper surface of the housing 2| has a nut 29 in threaded engagementat its lower end and a hand wheel 30 at its upper end. By means of alever arrangement 3! in engagement with the adjustable shelf 25, it ispossible, by rotating the hand wheel 30 to raise and lower the shelf 25and the attached sewing machine head 27.

The lowering and raising mechanism, as shown, for the sewing machinehead may be taken as representing any suitable mechanism for performingthe same function, that is, for varying the distance between themattress supporting plane or table l9 and the stitching plane as definedby the needle 32 of the sewing machine head 21.

It is to be noted that the roller 23 is in contacting relation with theupper track I! and the axis of the roller 23 lies in a planeperpendicular to the upper track and passing through the line of thedirection of reciprocation of the needle 32. This arrangement causes theneeedle to follow a path concentric with the arcuate mattress corners.

An endless rack 33 preferably made of a sprocket chain is secured to theouter surface of the track rail I? in any suitable manner. The rack 33extends all around the rail IT.

The means for driving the carriage 2i and sewing machine 2! around theframe Ill and table I!) includes a main driving shaft 35 which isrotatably mounted in bearings 36 provided in the housing. A power unit,preferably an electric motor 3i is secured to the lower face 38 of thehousing and has a pulley 39 thereon connected by a belt 38 to a pulley4| secured to the main driving shaft for driving said shaft.

A worm 42 is secured to the shaft 35 intermedi ate the bearings 36 andmeshes with a worm gear 43 which is rotatably mounted on an uprightshaft 44. The shaft 'M is provided with a coupling member 45 which iskeyed to the shaft against rotation but so as to permit axial movementthereof. A second coupling member 46 is secured to the worm gear 43 androtatably mounted on the shaft M in cooperative relation with theslidable coupling member 45 and a pinion gear ll is secured to the upperend of the shaft 44.

The sprocket pinion gear 41 meshes with the rack 33. The pinion remainsin mesh with the rack throughout the travel of the carriage 2| aroundthe frame. When the motor 31 is energized, the shaft 35 is rotated, andthe pinion being normally operatively connected to the shaft through theagency of the coupling members causes the housing and sewing machine tobe propelled around the frame It] and table I9. A Spring 38 interposedbetween the coupling member 45 and a collar 49 fixed to the shaft 44-serves to normally hold the coupling member in operative engagement.

The coupling member 45 may be disengaged from the coupling member 46 bymeans of a lever 50 pivoted at 5i and is held in an upright position ina slot 52 formed in a handle 53 which is integral with the housing 2|.The lever 50 has a forked end 54 which embraces a portion of thecoupling member 45.

It will be seen that by swinging the upper end of the lever 50, theforked end will be swung upwardly so as to move the coupling member 45upwardly and out of engagement with the coupling member 46 againstaction of the spring 48.

When the coupling members are disengaged, as above described, thecarriage 2| and the sewing machine 27 may be manually moved along theperiphery of the table It! independently of the driving mechanism.

A normally closed switch 63 is mounted at the lower portion of thecarriage 21 and has a push button 64 for operating the switch. Theswitch serves to transmit current to the motor 31 at all times exceptwhen the operator pushes the normally closed push button 64 to cut offthe current.

The push button 64 is normally urged outwardly by a spring 93. The pushbutton 64 carries an electrical contact 94 contacting an electricalcontact 95. Electric wiring 95 terminating in an electric plug 91 isarranged to form an electric circuit between the switch 63 and the motor31. When the operator forces the push button 64 inwardly, electriccurrent through the contacts 94, 95, to the electric motor 31 isinterrupted.

As shown in Figure 1, I have provided a pivotal member 55 best shown inFigure 6, at the center of each arcuate corner 18. Each pivoted member55 has an upright wall 56 of arcuate form defined by a quadrant of acircle with its center in superposed relation over the center of one ofthe arcuate corners !8. Each pivotal member 55 is formed with anintegral horizontal flange 51' having holes 58 used for bolting orriveting the members rigidly to the top of the frame 5 0.

The circular cross-section of the walls 56 is made to correspond to theouter circumference of a roller 59 rotatably mounted on a vertical axis63 at the free end of a frame 6| extending horizontally from thecarriage 2|. The axis 60 is positioned so as to come successively intoalinement with the centers of the upright walls 56 of the four pivotalmembers 55. This alinement permits rolling contact between the roller 59and the walls 56. The pivotal members 55 come into play when thecarriage 2i and the roller 59 reach the end of travel of the straightportions of the circumscribing tracks.

The apparatus In thus comprises a rigidly fixed pivotal member at eachof the four corners of the circumscribing track 33, whereby the sewingmachine propelled around the table is constrained to move in a workingorbit in exact concentric relation with said arcuate corners.

As shown in Figure 5, I have provided a modified apparatus 65 for sewingmattresses, comprising a vertically movable steel supporting table 66having a hollow upright column 61 secured centrally thereof below itslower surface. The steel plate 66 is secured by means of a flange 69,shown in enlarged view in Figure 7, to the column 67. A wooden table-topI0 is placed on the supporting table 66. A frame H similar to the frameI0 is provided with bearings 12, 13 secured in vertical alinementcentrally of said frame. The bearings are adapted to receive the columnin slidable relation. The column may be raised and lowered together withthe supporting table 66 and the table-top ill by any suitable meanswhich may comprise a rack M positioned longitudinally on the outersurface of the column. A gear 15 rotatably mounted in extensions 68 ofthe lower bearing and in engagement with the rack 14 actuates the tableup and down. The shaft 16 to which the gear 15 is secured has a wormgear 1'! fixed thereon and a worm 18 in intermeshing relation with theworm gear 71 actuates said raising and lowering mechanism. The wormshaft 19 may extend to opposite sides of the frame II and may have handWheels at each end by means of which the said mechanism may be actuatedwith ease. As shown in Figure 5, the worm and the worm gear provide alarge reduction in their relative motions. This reduction makes itpossible to provide a fine vertical adjustment as well as a powerfulirreversible mechanism when the table is loaded.

Electric current is supplied to the motor 31 in all positions which themotor assumes with respect to the frame "H by means comprising twoinsulated collector rings 8i, 8!, mounted in concentric relation withthe tubular column 61 between the supporting table 66 and the frame ii.An annular member 82 preferably having an apertured disk E52, has beenrotatably mounted at the upper portion of the column 67 above thecollector rings Si, Si, and seats in an annular groove 33 in the outerperiphery of the column. The annular member 82 extends downwardly belowthe collector rings a. distance suflicient to cover and totally enclosesaid rings. The member ill. forms a protecting housing whichcircumscribes the collector rings. A flanged tubular member 8% issecured to the annular member 8'2 and receives a tube 85 in slidabletelescoping relation. The tube 85 extends into the carriage lit. Thetube t may be secured to the carriage 86 in any suitable manner such asby a pin 92.

An electric plug 87 is secured to an electric cord 88 which passes upthrough the column 5'! and is connected to the collector rings andsupplies electric current to the collector rings. Electric brushes 89,39 pressed into contact with the collector rings by springs fill areconnected to an electric cord 9! which passes through the tubularmembers t l, 85 downward in the housing 85 and connects with the motor571.

It will thus be seen that when the carriage 86 and motor 37 move aroundthe frame l l that the telescoping tubes M, 535, will cause rotation ofthe annular housing 82 around the collector rings and that electriccurrent will at all times pass through the collector rings and throughthe brushes to the electric motor 31. It is obvious that the tube 35will be connected to the carriage 86 in any suitable manner (not shown).

The apparatus 65 thus described is self-contained and portable and it isa very simple matter for the entire apparatus to be moved to differentparts of the mattress making plant and quickly set it up for operationby merely making electrical connection with the plug 81.

While I have shown the sewing machine as propelled around the track atconstant speed, I may provide means for operating the motor at highspeed on straight portions of the track, and at low speed on curvedportions of the track, such as by changing the voltage across the motorterminals.

in accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustratedtwo preferred embodiments of my invention, but it will be understoodthat various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with asupporting table for a mattress, a frame for said table having asubstantially rectangular endless upright track at its upper elevation,an endless sprocket chain secured in circumscribing relation to saidtrack, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotal members mountedrespectively at the centers of said arcs, said pivotal members being ofarcuate form defined by a quadrant of a circle, a carriage comprisingtwo elongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned inspaced relation and .resting on said upper track, said carriage beingsupported by said rollers and being thereby freely movably mounted totravel around said track, a sewing machine secured to said carriage,sprocket means mounted on said housing and being in intermeshingengagement with said sprocket chain, means for actuating said sprocketmeans and propelling said sewing machine around said table for effectingstitching of a mattress on said table, and means on said carriage forsuccessively engaging said pivotal members to cause said sewing machineto be automatically moved in concentric relation with said corners.

2. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with asupporting table for a mattress, a frame for said table having anendless upright track at its upper elevation, an endless rack secured incircumscribing relation to said track, said track having arcuatecorners, fixed pivotal members secured to said frame at the centers ofsaid arcs, said pivotal members being of arcuate form defined by aquadrant of a circle, an endless upright track secured to said frame ata lower elevation and being in circumscribing relation with said frame,a carriage comprising two elongated rollers having horizontal axes andbeing positioned in spaced relation and resting on said upper track,said carriage being supported by said rollers and being thereby freelymovably mounted to travel around said tracks, a sewing machine securedto said carriage, sprocket means mounted on said carriage and being inintermeshing engagement with said rack, means for actuating saidsprocket means and propelling said sewing machine around said table foreffecting stitching of a mattress on said 3. In a mechanism of the classdescribed, the

combination with a supporting table for a mattress, a frame for saidtable having an endless upright track at its upper elevation, an endlessrack secured in circumscribing relation to said track, said track havingarcuate corners, fixed pivotal members secured to said frame at thecenters of said arcs, said pivotal members being of arcuate form definedby a quadrant of a circle, an endless upright track secured to saidframe at a lower elevation and being in circumscribing relation withsaid frame, a carriage comprising two elongated rollers havinghorizontal axes and being positioned in spaced relation and resting onsaid upper track, said carriage being supported by said rollers andbeing thereby freely movably mounted to travel around said tracks, asewing machine secured to said carriage, gear means mounted on saidcarriage and being in intermeshing engagement with said rack, anelectric motor for actuating said gear and propelling said sewingmachine around said table for effecting stitching of a mattress on saidtable, an electrically energized track below said table, meanscontacting said track for supplying current to said motor, and means onsaid carriage for successively engaging said pivotal members to causesaid sewing machine to be automatically moved in concentric relationwith said arcuate corners.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, the

combination with a supporting table for a mattress, a frame for saidtable having an endless track at its upper elevation, an endless racksecured. in circumscribing relation to said track, said track havingarcuate corners, fixed pivotal members secured to said frame at thecenters of said arcs, an endless track secured to said frame at a lowerelevation and being in circumscribing relation with said frame, acarriage comprising two elongated rollers having horizontal axes andbeing positioned in spaced relation and resting on said upper track,said carriage being supported by said rollers and being thereby freelymovably mounted to travel around said tracks, a sewing machine securedto said carriage, gear means mounted on said housing and being inintermeshing engagement with said rack, an electric motor for actuatingsaid gear and propelling said sewing machine around said table foreffecting stitching of a mattress on said table, an electricallyenergized endless track between said table and said frame, an annularhousing circumscribing and covering said track, means on said carriagefor contacting said track and supplying current to said motor, and meanson said carriage for successively engaging said pivotal members to causesaid sewing machine to be automatically moved in concentric relationwith said arcuate corners.

5. A mattress stitching machine adapted for operating on mattresses ofvarious sizes comprising a mattress supporting table, said table havingan upright column supported centrally thereof below its lower surface, aframe for said table having bearings adapted to receive said column insupporting relation, means for raising and lowering said table, endlesstracks secured in circumscribing relation with said frame, a carriageslidably mounted to move around said tracks, a sewing machine secured tosaid carriage, an endless rack secured in circumscribing relation tooneof said tracks, gear means mounted on said carriage and in engagementwith said rack, an electric motor for actuating said sewing machine andsaid gear for propelling said sewing machine around said table andeffecting stitching of a mattress on said table, collector ringsinsulated and secured to said column intermediate said table and saidframe, and means contacting with said collector rings and electricallyconnecting said rings and said motor, the contour of said tracks beingdisposed at varying distances from said collector rings, said electricalconnecting means having sections slidable over one another and beingthereby adapted to lengthen and shorten according to the varyingdistances of the outer contour of said tracks from said collector rings.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination withasupportingtable for a mattress having rounded corners, a frame for saidtable having a substantially rectangular endless upright track at itsupper elevation, an endless sprocket chain secured in circumscribingrelation to said track, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotalmembers mounted respectively at the centers of said arcs, said pivotalmembers being defined by a quadrant of a circle, a carriage comprisingtwo elongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned inspaced relation and resting on said upper track, said carriage beingsupported by said rollers and being thereby freely movably mounted totravel around said track, a sewing machine secured to said carriage,sprocket means mounted on said carriage and being in intermeshingengagement with said sprocket chain, means for actuating said sprocketmeans and propelling said sewing machine around said table for eifectingstitching of a mattress on said table, means on said carriage forsuccessively engaging said pivotal members to cause said sewing machineto be automatically moved in concentric relation with said roundedmattress corners, and means positioned centrally of said table forraising and lowering said table to variable vertical adjustments.

'7. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with asupporting table for a mattress having rounded corners, a frame for saidtable having a substantially rectangular endless upright track at it'supper elevation, an endless rack secured in circumscribing relation tosaid track, said track having arcuate corners, fixed pivotal membersmounted respectively at the centers of said arcs, said pivotal membersbeing defined by a quadrant of a circle, a carriage comprising twoelongated rollers having horizontal axes and being positioned in spacedrelation and resting on said upper track, said. carriage being Supportedby said rollers and being thereby freeely movably mounted to travelaround said track, a sewing machine secured to said carriage, saidcarriage being overbalanced on said elongated rollers and said lowertrack being of smaller dimensions than said upper track to maintain saidcarriage in a substantially vertical position, a roller on said carriagein contacting relation with said upper track, the axis of said rollerlying in the plane perpendicular to said track and passing through theline of the direction of reciprocation of the needle to cause saidneedle to follow a path concentric with said arcuate mattress corners,gear means mounted on said carriage and being in intermeshing engagementwith said rack, means for actuating said gear means and propelling saidsewing machine around said table for effecting stitching of a mattresson said table, means on said carriage Y for successively engaging saidpivotal members to cause said sewing machine to be automatically movedin concentric relation with said rounded mattress corners, and meanspositioned centrally of said table for raising and lowering said tableto variable vertical adjustments.

MAX GOLDBERG.

